Convertible furniture unit



Dec.{2'1,1948. A. M.. Rncl-iARiDso-N` 2,456,794-

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet l figg,

Filed Aug. 16, 1944 Dec. 21, 194s. A. M. RICHARDSON 2,456,794

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE UNIT Filed Aug.- 16, 1944 2 She'ets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE UNH` Ambrose M. Richardson, Chicago, Ill.

Application slugust 16, 1944, Serial No. 549,674

12 Claims. l

This invention relates to a convertible furniture unit, and more particularly to a combination of separable parts adapted to be interconnected in various ways to form different furniture units from the same parts.

One feature of this invention is that it provides an improved furniture unit; another feature of this invention is that the unit may be converted into a number of different styles, types and articles of furniture all made from the same parts, or from combination of certain of said parts; yet another feature of this invention is that the furniture unit may be readily and easily converted from one type of furniture unit to another type;

still another feature of this invention is that attractive and high-quality furniture units of modern style may be built cheaply in quantity production; a further feature of this invention is that it provides furniture which may be particularly easily stored and shipped, and which is particularly convenient in small apartments; and still a further feature of this invention is that the same furniture units can be used for different purposes at different times, in each'case being in the preferred form for the particular use. Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form of furniture unit embodying my invention; Figure 2 is a back view of the unit lshown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view along the line 3--3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 isanother fragmentary detail View, in section, along the'line l--li of Figure 1; Figure 5 is still a further fragmentary detail View, in section, along the line ti-5 of Figure l.; Figure 6 is a View of another furniture unit utilizing principally the same parts as are utilized in the unit shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a furniture unit, in this case a stool, made from parts and comprising another embodiment of my invention; Figure 8 is a different View of the unit shown in Figure '7, along the line 8-8 in such figure; Figure 9 is a side elevational View of vanother furniture unit, in this case a straight-back chair, incorporating the parts used in making the unit shown in Figures 7 and 8 and certain additional parts; Figure 10 is a side elevational view of another unit of furniture, in this case an easy chair vwith a reclining back, principally formed from same units used for the chair shown in Figure 9, the back of this reclining chair being shown in two different angles; and Figure 11 is a perspective view of another unit of furniture embodying my invention, vin this case a settee com-" prising a plurality of associated units of the kind shown in Figure 9.

The trend in housing is toward smaller and smaller dwelling units, with less floor space in each room and with less storage space. In large dwelling units it is feasible to have four straightback chairs conveniently at hand for use in the front room if cards are to be played, for example; several dierent types of easy chairs for reading or lounging; and a settee or couch. Such a large number of furniture units not only involve the expenditure of a considerable amount of money, but cannot be used in the modern small dwelling because of space limitations.

l have devised and am here disclosing and claiming a convertible furniture unit or combination of parts enabling different types of furniture units to be easily and quickly assembled, to suit the requirements of the immediate occasion, from ,the same basic combination of parts, or certain of such parts, That is, I provide what may be termed a kit or combination of furniture parts which may be very quickly and easily assembled and disassembled in various combinations. With this kit or combination of parts the user may make a straight-back chair to be used in association with a desk, for example, or a settee, or a couple of easy chairs for the living room of the apartment, as one representative example. If company are coming in to play cards of an evening, several of said units may be quickly and easily converted into comfortable, upholstered straight-back chairs for use around the card table. On the other hand, if an old crony of the mans is coming over to spend the evening in conversation and smoking, let us say, a couple of -unitsmay be made into comfortable easy chairs with an associated footstool or footrest if desired. Moreover, the householder may have several additional units at hand for use in case of large parties, without the need of undue storage space,l since in knock-down form the combination of parts may be stored in very small space, as in one corner of a closet. Similarly, in moving, the furniture units may be knocked down and crated I'or boxed in very convenient form requiring much less time and cost in the moving. Yet all of these advantages, and others which will be apparent from the following description, are attained in extremely attractive furniture units of modern style.

Basically, my furniture unit includes a supporting member, which may be in the form of a rectangle and provided with a wooden frame and ern-upholstered spring 'supported member in turn 3 adapted to provide support for part of the human body; and a plurality of supporting elements adapted to be readily and conveniently connected to and disconnected from the supporting member, these elements being designed to hold the supporting member in desired position relative to the floor. More specifically, a chair unit may be formed of a pair of identical supporting members, one providing the seat of the chair and the other the back; anda first group 'of 'supporting elements may be so connected to the seat member as to hold it in desired spaced relation from the oor, acting as legs, while a second set of supporting elements may serve to interconnect thel two supporting members in such a way as to keep the back member in proper relation to the seat member. Convenient interconnection of the members and supporting elements is preferably eiected by providing connector devices `on each'y of the supporting members adapted to make connection with the supporting elements :in various ways.

In one embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1-6, inclusive, the supporting members, ,identified as a seat member I and a backrn'ember I6, are provided with rectangular wooden frames and upholstered supporting surfaces, it being understood that these supporting members should provide a surface which provides al comfortable support, with appropriate upholstering and spring support, and at the same time present a pleasing appearance. For convenience in terminology, the surfaces of the supporting members I5 and I6 opposite the surfaces intended to re- -ceive and vsupport a human body the back surfaces of the members.

These members are each provided, on their back surfaces, withr four spaced connector devices in the form `of threaded sockets, as vthe vsockets I'ia, Hb, I'Ic and I1d of the member I6,` or the socket I8a of the member I5 shown lin` detail in Figures 3 and 4. Where the supporting member is to be used as a seat member, as 'the member I5 in the chair shown in Figures 1 and 2,

rod-like supporting elements in the 'form of pipes- I 9ct-d are adapted to have one end threaded into the connector device and the other end rest on the oor. Where one of the supportingl members is being used as a back member, as the member I6 in the chair shown in Figures 1 and 2, these iirst types of supporting elements would not be used.

Each ofthe'supporting members l5 and I6 is also provided on its back surface with another set of spaced connector devices, as the devices ZUa-cl of the member I6,'and 2 I a-d'of the member I5. These connector devices are in the'form of tapered channels, secured by screws to the frame of the supporting member. Another 'or second type oi supporting element is adapted toy be received in these connector devices 20 and 2l to hold the supporting vmembers I5 and I5 in desired relation to each other,4 as the 'supporting elements `22a and 22h. As can be readily 'seenn Figures 1-5, these supporting elements/22 slip tightly into the connector devices 20 on the supporting member I6 and'intotheconnector .devices 2I on the supporting member I5, so thatthe supporting member vI6 is held in a :desired position, in this case upright, with respect to the seat member I5.

The rst supporting elements I9 readily screw into .and out of the sockets or connector devices I3; and the supporting elements 22 maybe easily V slipped into connected-relationship,withb1139011- will be termed nector devices 20 and 2| without the use of tools. It will be readily apparent that, for storage or shipping, the supporting members and supporting elements can be disassociated and made into a compact kit or combination. On the other hand, a very satisfactory chair may be quickly and conveniently assembled when desired. The kit contains several connector elements of the secondtype at diierent angles, so that other "combinations orlunits of furniture may be readily assembled. For example`,the supporting elements 23 (forming an obtuse angle) may be used to interconnect the supporting members I5 and I to provide `an easy chair with a reclining back, as shown to the right in Figure 6. Also, another supporting member 24 with supporting leg elements 25ad maybe associated with the supporting member I5 to provide a lounging chair of the deck-chair type, appropriate holding means, as the plate 26 and screws or the like v21a and 2lb, being provided to hold the supportinghmembers vI 5 and 2d in desired relationship. It

will also be 'apparent that use of the supporting member 24 with its legs 25 alone provides a stool.

A preferred embodiment of my invention, also adapted .to make different furniture units from -tllesame'basic combination of parts, is illusvtrated in Figures 7-11. Figures '7 and 8 show a stool assembled from certain of the preferred parts; Figure 9 shows a straight-back yet cornfortable chair for use in eatingat a Writingdesk, card playing and the like; Figure 10 shows an easy chair; and Figure 11 a settee, all being made from the same basic parts.

Referring'rs't tothe stool shown in Figures 7 and 8, the supporting member here identied as -3ag'ain `comprises a rectangular wooden frame Whichfmay be covered'with leatherette or other appropriate material,- the upper surface being padded andsu'pported by coil springs to provide lav comfortable supporting surface. The bottom of the supporting member, best seen in Figure 8, is provided with four connector devices in the form'of tapered channel sections here identiiied *as '3l'a-d, these being located in the corners oi the supporting member 30 Vand two of the tapered connector devices having their wide ends facing up (speaking with respect to the position ofthe parts as seen in Figure 8) and two having their 'wide ends facing down. The supporting elements in this 'case are tubes or pipes, two of these being identified as 32a 'and 32h, which may be chromium plated or otherwise nished. Each of these (as is also the case with the other two supporting elements not visible in Figure 7) are bent at an acute angle, but at a somewhat different angle; and A'eacha're provided at their upper ends with plates here identified as 32a and 32h', for example, adapted to be tightly received within the connector devices 3Ia and 3Ib, the plates being correspondingly tapered.v These plates are connectedto the ends of the supporting elements at some angle other than a right angle, as may be best `seen in Figure .7, andthe plates on the two legs 32a and 32e are at a somewhat diiTerent angle with respect to the adjacent portion of the supporting elements than. are the plates 32h and 32ev with respect to the adjacent portions of their supporting elements. When-the parts are used merely to provide a stoolas illustrated in Figrcase in Figure 7.

it will be seen that the legs 32a and 32a have been turned around and arranged oppositely in the connector devices,the supporting element 32e now being received in the -connector device 3Ia and vice versa. This results in the bent portion of each of these supporting elements extending backwardly from the supporting member 30,l rather than underneath it as was the Another supporting member here identified as M3 is provided with connector devices Ha-d corresponding to the devices 3la-d on the member` 30; and the kit of parts includes supporting elements similar to those illustrated and more fully described heretofore in connection with the supporting member 30. In this case supporting elements 42D and 42d correspond exactly in shape to the elements 35.1) and 32d previously described, but they are placed in the opposite connector devices as illustratedi. e., supporting element 42d is received in the connector device Zlib. The two ends of the supporting elements 32e and 42d on the one hand and 32a, and 42h on the other hand, are connected by telescoping tubular connecting means, one

of these being shown and identified as 43 in '..z

Figure 9. While these are shown as a supplementary separate piece, it will be understood that the connector elements could be so arranged as to telescope, screw, or otherwise fasten directly to each other.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 10, it will be seen that the same basic kit of parts may be used to provide an easy chair with the back at an intermediate angle, as shown in solid lines, or at quite a reclining angle, as shown in t dotted lines. In this combination the supporting elements or legs 32a and 32o are placed in the connector devices 31a and 3I`c as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8; but the supporting elements 32d and 32h are interchanged, the element 32d now being received in the connector device 31h, as illustrated. If connection is now made between the supporting elements 2b and 32d on the one hand, and 42d and 32h on the other hand, the resulting furniture unit will be as shown in solid lines in Figure 10. On the other hand, the supporting elements 52h and ld may be replaced by the elements 42a and 42o to provide an easy chair with the back at a considerable angle as shown in dotted lines in Figure l0.

It will be immediately apparent that the same basic combination of parts may be used to make a stool as shown in Figures 7 and 8, a straight chair as shown in Figure 9, and either of two types of easy chairs as shown in Figure l0. Moreover, the conversion between different units may be accomplished easily and quickly, and the parts may be knocked down to very small space for storage or shipment. Moreover, a plurality of such chair units may be assembled to provide a settee, as illustrated in Figure l1, Here the chair unit comprising the supporting members 30 and 40 is associated with two other chair units comprising the supporting members 5l! and 5I and El] and 6l. the three chair units being preferably latched together by appropriate holding means as the plates and screws or the like shown in Figure 6. The result is the provision of a kit or combination of furniture parts comprising supporting members and supporting elements which may be interconnected in various ways to provide different furniture units, and wherein the interconnections are so made that one unit may be quickly and easily converted into a different type of unit.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and ar rangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A convertible furniture unit, comprising: a supporting member having a rigid base portion having two sides; connector-devices attached along the two sides of the base portion and formed with channels tapering divergently out wardly toward the respective sides; a plurality of legs each having a bend intermediate of its length forming two angularly positioned sections; a plate Xed at the upper end of one of said sections of each leg-and positioned at an acute Y.angle thereto in a plane normal to the direction of the extent of the channels, said plates being insertble into and removable from said connector devices whereby said legs may be attached to the base portion at different angular positions with respect thereto; a second supporting member similar to the rst mentioned supporting member; Vand a pair of angular legs removably secured to one side of the second supporting member, and means for securing the free ends of the last mentioned legs to the free ends of two of the first mentionedlegs to provide a back rest to the furniture unit.

2. A convertible furniture unit, comprising: a first supporting member having a rigid base portion with a plurality of corners; a connector device attached adjacent each corner of the base portion; a plurality of supporting elements each intermediately bent at an acute angle and each having at one end a plate adapted to be inserted into and removed from any of the connector devices; a second supporting member similar to the first supporting member and having two similar angular supporting elements; and means for connecting the free ends of the supporting elements of the second supporting member to the free ends of two of the supporting elements of the rst supporting member.

3. A convertible furniture unit, comprising:` a first supporting member having a rigid base portion having two sides; connector devices attached ,along the two sides of the base portion and formed with channels tapering divergently outwardly toward the respective sides; a plural ity of angular supporting elements each having at its upper end a plate adapted to be inserted into and removed from any of the connector devices; a second supporting member similar' to the rst supporting member and having two similar angular supporting elements; and means for connectingv the free ends of the supporting elements of the second supporting member to the free ends of two of the supporting elements of the first supporting member, some of said plates being positioned at one acute angle to the adjacent portion of the supporting element in a plane lnormal to the direction of the extent of the channels and others of plates beine po sitioned at a di Aferent acute to me. cent portion of the supporting element in a plane normal to the direction of the extent of the channels, whereby by a selection of supporting elements the second supporting member may be positioned at different angles to the nrst supporting member.

4. A convertible furniture unit, comprising: a

supporting member having a rigid base portion message having two. sides; .connector devices attached alongv the two side'sofv said-'base v'portion and formed .with channels tapering. divergently outwardlyvtoward the-respectivevv sides; a plurality ofv supporting 'elements ieach4 having an angular bend vintermediate vof its` length andhaving fixed at one end a plate adaptedr.to Abe4 inserted into and removed from any of the connector devices, some of-.said plates being positoned'atfone acute angle to the adjacent` portion of the supporting element ina planevnormal'to the 'directionof the extent of the channels and theothers offthe platesl being positionedat a different acute angle to the adjacent portion .of the supporting element in afplanenormal to the `direction of the extent of the channels, .wherebythe'supporting elements may be attached to the 1 supporting member with the angular free ends pointinginwardly or outwardly of the supporting member as desired.

5. A convertible furniturelunit, comprising; a pairof supporting members each having a rigid base portion having two sides; a plurality of connector -devices -attached along the `two' sides of; eachof said base portions; a plurality of 'supporting elements-fior each of said supporting members, each `supporting element having an acute angle bendintermediate of its length forming two. angularlyipositioned sections one. of which sectionsof each :supporting element has xed thereto a lplate vadapted'to be inserted into and removed from a=connector device; one of said supporting membershavinga pairof supporting elements attached thereto vwithtl'ie Ifree ends of the sections remote'from the plates extending laterally outwardly therefrom; and means for connecting said freev ends of the last mentioned supporting elements with the free ends of apair of supporting elements of the othersupporting member.

6.*A'convertible `furniture unit', comprising: a supporting member having'a rigid base portion having'two sides; a:plurality of connector 'devices secured to the base portion along thetwo sides thereof and formed with channels tapering divergently outwardly toward the respective sides; and a plurality of' supporting elements detachably connected to said connector devices, each of said supporting elements -havinga bend intermediate of its .length to form two angularly positioned sections; and plates for attaching the supporting elements to the connector devices, said plates each being positioned at an acute angle 'to' the adjacent portion of its supporting element in a plane normal to rthe direction of the extent of the channels so that the free end sections of the supporting elements may be positioned underneath thebase portion' as well as extend laterally outward therefrom selectively as desired.

7. Av convertible furniture unit, comprising:V a supporting member having 'arigid base portion with two opposite sides; a plurality of connector devices secured to the base .portionalong the two sides thereof and formed with channels tapering divergently outwardly toward the respective sides; a plurality of supporting elements removably connected to said connector devices by plates each xed to .one `endzof'each of saidfsupporting elements at anacute' 'angle to the adjacent portion of itsI` supporting element in a plane normal to the Vdirection of vthe extent of the channels, the angle of some of` said lplates with relation to their supporting elements being djierent .from the angle offthe f other-j o f: said 8- plates with frelationzto `their suppcrtingfelements, whereby the angleof thev supportingyrelements with*A relation to the .base ;.portion .can be .-varied by changing. the positionofthe plates:` in the various `connectoradevices' 8.1 A convertible-:furniture .unit of: the character described adapted to provideany desired one of various different :furniture units, including.: a pair of supporting; members; connector .fdevices oneachof .said members; .first supportingvelements adapted to have a portion of leachrest on thelflor andanother: portionzof each removably connected to one offsaid members by the devices thereon,` said elements.comprisingJrod-like ele-1 ments-formed vin .anV acute angle; and second similar supporting elements removablyconnected toethekother member bythe devicesV -tliereontwo ofrthe rst supporting elements and the 4second supporting'elements'feachhavlng an'angulariree fend extending.' outofr'om'irzunder 'onefedge off" its supporting member.; and means for detachably connecting said 'angular free ends together.y

9. Affurniture unit adapted to provide diiferent furniture -articles,1.comprising: a pair `of supporting members one forminga seat portioni and thetother a back rest, each .ofsaid supporting members havingv a rigid 4base portion withv two sides; connector devices attached along thev two sides of each of said base portions. andeachconnector formed with a tapering. channel; supporting legs forsaid seat portion two of' which are each formed with an Vacute angle bend intermediate of itslength forming `two angularly positioned upper and Alower sections, the top end yof each-of said upper sections having xed 'thereto a'tapered plate adapted to be removably inserted into a connector of the seat portion, with the bend restingon the oor and the other of 'each of said sections fhaving fa. .free end v'extending `angularly outwardly from underneath the seat' portion; a .pairof :supporting elements similarA in construction to Vsaid bent legs andA having ltheir end plates removably inserted into a pair of con'- nectors of the back rest; and connecting means for connectingv together the' angular free ends of the bent legs of the seaty portion to the angular free ends of said supporting elements of the back rest. y

10. Affurniture unit comprising, a supporting member having a rigid base portion with two sides, connector devices attached along the two sides of the base portion, a plurality of legs each having an acute angle bend intermediate of its length forming an upper and lower section, a plate'iixed at the upper end of each of said upper sections adapted to be detachably inserted in one of said connector devices, the bend oi" each of said legs resting' on the floor and said lower sections extending angularly upwardly and forming an lacute-anglewith the plane of the base portion. y

11. A furniture unit, comprisinga `supporting member having a rigid base portion having ,two sides, connector devices attached along the two sides of said base portion, a plurality of rod-like legs each having an acute angle bend intermediate of. its length and' forming a knee-portion adapted to rest onv the oor and an upper and lower section, each of said upper sections having on its upper end aplate adapted to be detachably connected with'oneof said connector devices, and each of said lower sections formingan' upwardlyextending acute angle with the noor'when the knee-portion rests thereon.

12. A furniture unit as -fclaim'ed-."inuclaim11,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gibson Dec. 28, 1869 Finch May 7, 1871 Stockwell Feb. 22, 1910 Lampert Sept. 8, 1914 Zimmerli Dec. 5, 1922 Sobel Jan. 19, 1932 Lowenberg Oct. 9, 1934 Reyniers Nov. 19, 1935 

